DementiaDementia is not a specific disease. It is a descriptive term for a collection of symptoms that can be caused by a number of disorders that affect the brain. People with dementia have significantly impaired intellectual functioning that interferes with normal activities and relationships. They also lose their ability to solve problems and maintain emotional control, and they may experience personality changes and behavioral problems, such as agitation, delusions, and hallucinations. While memory loss is a common symptom of dementia, memory loss by itself does not mean that a person has dementia. Doctors diagnose dementia only if two or more brain functions - such as memory and language skills -- are significantly impaired without loss of consciousness. Some of the diseases that can cause symptoms of dementia are Alzheimer’s disease, vascular dementia, Lewy body dementia, frontotemporal dementia, Huntington’s disease, and Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease. Doctors have identified other conditions that can cause dementia or dementia-like symptoms including reactions to medications, metabolic problems and endocrine abnormalities, nutritional deficiencies, infections, poisoning, brain tumors, anoxia or hypoxia (conditions in which the brain’s oxygen supply is either reduced or cut off entirely), and heart and lung problems. Although it is common in very elderly individuals, dementia is not a normal part of the aging process.Drugs to specifically treat Alzheimer’s disease and some other progressive dementias are now available. Although these drugs do not halt the disease or reverse existing brain damage, they can improve symptoms and slow the progression of the disease. This may improve an individual’s quality of life, ease the burden on caregivers, or delay admission to a nursing home. Many researchers are also examining whether these drugs may be useful for treating other types of dementia. Many people with dementia, particularly those in the early stages, may benefit from practicing tasks designed to improve performance in specific aspects of cognitive functioning. For example, people can sometimes be taught to use memory aids, such as mnemonics, computerized recall devices, or note taking.There are many disorders that can cause dementia. Some, such as Alzheimer’s disease or Huntington’s disease, lead to a progressive loss of mental functions. But other types of dementia can be halted or reversed with appropriate treatment. People with moderate or advanced dementia typically need round-the-clock care and supervision to prevent them from harming themselves or others. They also may need assistance with daily activities such as eating, bathing, and dressing.The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) and other institutes of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) conduct research related to dementia in laboratories at the NIH and also support additional dementia research through grants to major medical institutions across the country. Current research focuses on many different aspects of dementia. This research promises to improve the lives of people affected by the dementias and may eventually lead to ways of preventing or curing these disorders.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?CMD=search&term=dementia[majr]+AND+human[mh]+AND+english[la]+AND+(review[ptyp]+OR+review+literature[mh]+OR+practice+guideline[ptyp]+OR+guideline[ptyp]+OR+clinical+trials[mh]+OR+clinical+trial[ptyp]+OR+consumerj[sb])&db=PubMed&orig_db=PubMed&filters=on&pmfilter_EDatLimit=1+Yearshttp://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/dementia.html1http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/results?term=/disorders/dementias/pubs_dementia.htm/disorders/dementias/xml_dementia.xmlV9Alzheimer's Disease Education
and Referral Center (ADEAR)National Institute on AgingP.O. Box 8250Silver SpringMD20907-8250adear@nia.nih.govhttp://www.nia.nih.gov/alzheimers1-800-438-4380301-495-3334V10Alzheimer's Association225 North Michigan AvenueFloor 17ChicagoIL60601-7633info@alz.orghttp://www.alz.org312-335-8700
1-800-272-3900 (24-hour helpline)
TDD: 312-335-5886866.699.1246National voluntary health organization committed to finding a cure for Alzheimer’s and helping those affected by the disease.V846Alzheimer's Foundation of America322 Eighth Avenue7th FloorNew YorkNY10001info@alzfdn.orghttp://www.alzfdn.org866-AFA-8484 (232-8484)646-638-1546Works to provide optimal care and services to individuals confronting dementia and to their caregivers and families thruogh member organizations dedicated to improving quality of life.V729Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Foundation57 West 57th StreetSuite 904New YorkNY10019info@alzdiscovery.orghttp://www.alzdiscovery.org212-901-8000212-901-8010Public charity whose mission is to accelerate the discovery and development of drugs to prevent, treat, and cure Alzheimer's disease, related dementias, and cognitive aging.V853Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration (AFTD)Radnor Station Building #2
Suite 320290 King of Prussia RoadRadnorPA19087info@theaftd.orghttp://www.theaftd.org267-514-7221
866-507-7222Nonprofit organization that promotes and funds research into finding the cause and cure for frontotemporal degeneration, also called frontotemporal dementia (FTD); provides information, education, and support to those affected by FTD and their caregivers; and sponsors professional health education programs related to FTD.V89BrightFocus Foundation22512 Gateway Center DriveClarksburgMD20871info@brightfocus.orghttp://www.brightfocus.org/alzheimers/1- 800-437-2423301-258-9454Non-profit charitable organization dedicated to funding research and educating the public on Alzheimer's disease, glaucoma, and macular degeneration.V11John Douglas French Alzheimer's Foundation11620 Wilshire Blvd.Suite 270Los AngelesCA90025http://www.jdfaf.org310-445-4650310-479-0516Provides seed money for novel and innovative Alzheimer's research at major California universities. Unsolicited applications and/or letters of inquiry not accepted.V860Lewy Body Dementia Association912 Killian Hill Road, S.W.LilburnGA30047lbda@lbda.orghttp://www.lbda.orgTelephone: 404-935-6444
LBD Caregiver Link: 800-539-9767480-422-5434Supports those affected by Lewy body dementias through outreach, education and research.V658National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)National Institutes of Health, DHHS6001 Executive Blvd. Rm. 8184, MSC 9663BethesdaMD20892-9663nimhinfo@nih.govhttp://www.nimh.nih.gov301-443-4513/866-415-8051
301-443-8431 (TTY)301-443-4279V91National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD)55 Kenosia AvenueDanburyCT06810orphan@rarediseases.orghttp://www.rarediseases.org203-744-0100
Voice Mail 800-999-NORD (6673)203-798-2291Federation of voluntary health organizations dedicated to helping people with rare "orphan" diseases and assisting the organizations that serve them. Committed to the identification, treatment, and cure of rare disorders through programs of education, advocacy, research, and service.